PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Steve Fox (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Minoru Cho Choi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cho Choi has chosen Gerry & The Pacemakers - You'll Never Walk Alone as his entrance music. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Fox
vs
Cho Choi

175 cm
22
212 lbs
8 - 5 - 1

194 cm
26
220 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 1, fighting out of London, Steve Fox!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Minoru Cho Choi!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, James Atkins and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Fox.
Cho Choi does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Fox closes the distance and clinches up with Cho Choi, looking for a takedown. Fox pushes Cho Choi against the cage but Cho Choi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Fox looks for a takedown but Cho Choi sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Fox. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cho Choi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Fox shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cho Choi defends it nicely.
Nice defenses there by Fox.
Cho Choi throws a low kick but Fox moves out of range easily.
Cho Choi looks to score with a jab to the body but Fox is just out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cho Choi throws the kick towards the body but Fox avoids it.
Cho Choi misses with a wild body shot.
Cho Choi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Fox shoots in for a takedown but Cho Choi shows good takedown defense.
Cho Choi tries a low kick but Fox avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cho Choi looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Cho Choi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cho Choi throws a shot from downtown. Fox moves away and avoids it.
Minoru Cho Choi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cho Choi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Fox drives through with a takedown into guard.
Fox controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Fox prevents Cho Choi from getting back to his feet.
Fox trying to control but Cho Choi is working from the bottom.
Fox wants to stand but Cho Choi has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Fox drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Fox jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Cho Choi preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Fox has gone for a leg lock! Cho Choi slips out almost immediately though and dives into Fox's guard.
Cho Choi postures up in Fox's guard and throws a big left but Fox blocks it.
Fox bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Cho Choi's guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Cho Choi can do anything to dispel that myth.
Fox trying to control the position from guard on top but Cho Choi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cho Choi preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Fox trying to control the position from guard on top but Cho Choi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fox missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fox looking to pass the guard.
Fox wants to control from the top but Cho Choi keeps moving.

We're going to have a standup here because Steve Fox wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Fox closes the distance and clinches up with Cho Choi, looking for a takedown. Fox pushes Cho Choi against the cage but Cho Choi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Cho Choi misses with a wild body shot.
Jab by Cho Choi.
Cho Choi throws a body punch but Fox moves out of range.

Fox shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Cho Choi is trying to defend but Fox finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fox slows the pace down in half guard.
Fox wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cho Choi keeps working.
Cho Choi is looking to escape.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Fox seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Cho Choi does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Fox dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Cho Choi fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Fox checks it well.
Fox rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cho Choi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A head kick from Cho Choi lands but Fox takes it in his stride.
Fox checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Fox avoids the body shot from Cho Choi.
Cho Choi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cho Choi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Fox moves away.
Cho Choi with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Fox pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Fox moves out of range as Cho Choi strikes.
Fox moves out of range of the leg kick from Cho Choi.
Fox swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cho Choi works over Fox's head and body with a nice combination.

It looks like Steve Fox has been cut.
Cho Choi is breathing heavily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A slow jab from Cho Choi misses its intended target.
Cho Choi swings for the body but Fox moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cho Choi throws a head kick but Fox moves out of range.
Cho Choi pivots, looking for a leg kick but Fox is out of range and Cho Choi settles back down.
Cho Choi does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

Fox shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Cho Choi really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Fox. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Fox wants to control from the top but Cho Choi keeps moving.

Fox gets to his feet. Cho Choi looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Fox closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Fox wants to free his trapped foot but Cho Choi is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Still in half guard, Fox seems content to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Fox is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Cho Choi has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Fox is trying to work for a kimura but Cho Choi is defending well.

Fox decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Cho Choi shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Fox ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cho Choi moves away.
Fox ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Fox misses the jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fox defending well as Cho Choi loads up on a big left hand.
Fox checks a low kick from Cho Choi.
Cho Choi tries a low kick but Fox avoids it.
Cho Choi misses the shot to the body.
Cho Choi misses with a body shot.
Cho Choi throws a push kick but Fox slaps the foot to one side.
Nice takedown defense from Cho Choi. No joy for Fox on that attempt.

Fox shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Fox wants to work for an arm triangle but Cho Choi is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Fox is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Cho Choi has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fox is trying to control. Cho Choi wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Fox throwing shots but Cho Choi is blocking nicely.
Fox stalling.

Fox looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fox lands with a punch from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Minoru Cho Choi will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Steve Fox's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Cho Choi throws a solid leg kick but Fox takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Cho Choi.
Cho Choi throws a front kick aimed at Fox's knee but Fox avoids it well.
Cho Choi throws a leg kick that misses.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Cho Choi enables Fox to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Cho Choi manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Cho Choi tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Fox stands and steps away. Cho Choi gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Cho Choi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Fox looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cho Choi is fending him off so far but Fox persists. Nope, Cho Choi circles away and we're back to standing.
Minoru Cho Choi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fox moves out of range of the leg kick from Cho Choi.
Cho Choi throws a body punch but Fox moves out of range.
The fighters circle momentarily. Cho Choi darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Cho Choi scores with a body shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cho Choi ducks under a wild hook from Fox.
Cho Choi throws a nice inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cho Choi misses with a wild body shot.
Cho Choi tries to work over Fox's front leg with a kick but Fox checks it.

Fox scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Cho Choi is refusing to be controlled, as Fox sits in half guard.
Cho Choi avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Fox.
Cho Choi is trying to stand up here but Fox is controlling him well.
Fox is keen to just control but Cho Choi is a slippery customer.
Cho Choi is trying to stand back up but Fox is controlling him
Fox thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Fox stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Cho Choi to get to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Fox gets a takedown into half guard.

Fox is working for a submission of some sort.
Fox wants to take a breather but Cho Choi is having none of it.
Fox wants to stand but Cho Choi has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cho Choi is not content to let Fox control the position.
Cho Choi tries to roll over but Fox keeps him under control.

Fox is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Cho Choi doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Fox.

Fox is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Cho Choi is just riding it out for now. Fox eventually gives up the hold.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Fox wants to control but Cho Choi is keeping him busy.

Fox looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Fox is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Cho Choi is just riding it out for now. Fox eventually gives up the hold.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Fox showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Fox has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Fox!